Former Man Utd and Arsenal star Robin van Persie slams manager after being left on bench

Van Persie criticised coach Vitor Pereira for not starting him against Bursaspor last weekend.

The Dutchman - who only joined the club in the summer after losing his first team place at United - was brought on as a 77th minute substitute and promptly scored the winner for his new club.

But that did not improve his mood, with the Dutch striker telling Lig TV: "To be honest, I am not very happy at this moment.

"I was not happy that I started on the bench. I am fully fit, physically very well and able to play for 90 minutes.

"The only right answer I could give was with what I did: helping the team to get the victory."

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UNHAPPY: Robin van Persie was outraged he was left on the bench by his new side Fenerbahce

“I was not happy that I started on the bench. I am fully fit, physically very well and able to play for 90 minutes”

Robin van Persie

Van Persie, who is paid £3.5m a year at Fenerbahce, has only played the full 90 minutes once since arriving in Turkey, and his goal against Bursaspor was just his second for the club.

But Pereira insists he does not regret keeping his high-profile new signing on the sidelines, with Fenerbahce having taken 13 points from their opening five games this season, a record that has put them three points clear at the top of the table.

He said: "I would play more players if we were allowed to play 22 or 25 players.

"The players can like or not like what I do, but I must take decisions. I am happy with Van Persie’s performance after being brought on to the pitch.

"It would be bad if he wasn’t unhappy about being a substitute. This proves that he wants to play."